Lecture Capture
Lecture capture allows instructors to create audio/video recordings of classroom lectures or presentations. With lecture capture, instructors can record their presentations (both audio and video) including any material that gets projected onto the classroom’s screen.
Lecture Capture in the Classroom
Boston College uses Echo360 as its lecture capture system. With Echo360, instructors teaching in specially-equipped rooms can automatically record their class meetings and presentations or start and stop the recording process at will.
Lecture Capture on a Laptop
Instructors can also request to use personal capture, which records presentations through software on the presenter's computer rather than through classroom technology. This allows an instructor to create presentations anywhere and at any time, and publish them to a Blackboard Vista course site. The system automatically records what is shown on the screen, and requires a built-in microphone or headset for the audio recording and a webcam if the instructor would like to include a video (optional). A limited number of licenses are available; please contact eteach@bc.edu for further information.
Publishing Captures
After the class session ends and the recording stops, the recording is uploaded and compressed, and then automatically inserted in the course’s Blackboard Vista site. Students can then log into the Blackboard Vista course site to view the recording. All of this happens behind the scenes, without any additional work on the part of the instructor. Editing options are available, however, as is an ability to prevent the recording from being released to students until the instructor specifies.
The finished recordings are viewable on both Mac and PC platforms.
The Benefits of Using Lecture Capture
- Lecture capture can contribute to improved comprehension. Particularly for classes that cover a large amount of difficult or technical material, the ability for students to return to a recording of a particular class and review exactly what was said can be invaluable.
- Use of lecture capture can increase student participation. If students know they can review the material after class, they will be less focused on taking notes and more engaged in the course.
- Students can easily record presentations in class and make them available for their classmates to critique and review.
- Recordings of guest speakers and presenters can be made and used for subsequent courses.
Classrooms Equipped with Lecture Capture
- Campion 131
- Cushing 206
- Devlin 008
- Fulton 150
- Fulton 415
- Fulton 423
- Fulton 425
- Fulton 511
- Law School (please contact Law School Media Services for more information)
- McGuinn 121
- O’Neill 253
- St. William's Chapel
Requesting to Use Lecture Capture
- Fill out our online lecture capture course request form.
- If you are interested in learning more about lecture capture, please contact eteach@bc.edu.